Roulette is by far one of the easiest casino games to learn and play. Unfortunately, like most other games that are easy to learn, the house will most likely have an advantage over the player where the house edge is higher. However, if you’re willing to take the risk and have fun, then you should definitely give this game a go. It’s no news this game is so popular, and that it’s been around since the 17th century. Its roots began in France and quickly gained international appeal from people all over the world. Even if you haven’t experienced the joy from this iconic game before, surely you’ve seen it somewhere, whether it be from a casino, cruise ship or even from television. It’s everywhere.
In this article we’ll be talking about American roulette in particular, rather than the European roulette. However, we’ll be discussing some of the differences between the two in a little bit. True, you’ll find American roulette in most casinos in the U.S., however the game is gaining more popularity worldwide and can even be seen in some of the casinos specifically in England and also in some Asian countries. One of the things that remains the same with this game is the house edge, which doesn’t change no matter where you go. With that in mind, we’ll be taking a look at some of the general rules to American roulette as well as some of the payouts and odds of winning.
American Roulette Rules
Let’s go ahead and go over the American Roulette Rules. One of the major differences from roulette compared to other table games, the chips used on the roulette table have no denominations on them, but instead they use around 8 different sets, with each set containing 300. Whenever you purchase them, you will receive your own color. The value of each one is calculated by the buy-in amount and dividing it by the number of chips you got.
Roulette Rules. Roulette has been played in one form or another for centuries. The iconic wheel is thought to have once contained as few as 31 numbers, though it now typically has either 37 (in Europe) or 38 (in the United States), meaning the odds of success. Before you start playing roulette games, you should clarify the information of such point as roulette variation. The point is that each roulette variation has its own payouts and differs from the classic roulette at intertops in some moments, but the basic rules keep the same. Here’s a list of all roulette bet payouts and odds in European roulette. The detailed description of different types of bets can be found in the sections below. In American roulette, the payouts are the same, but the probability for a hit is lower. 1 number: payout 35:1, chance to hit 2.7%; 2 numbers: payout 17:1, chance to hit 5.41%.
The game involves a wheel which has 38 slots labeled with a number on each one. These numbers are 1 – 36, 0 and 00. The sequence of the numbers goes from pairs of odd numbers to pairs of even numbers. They also go from black to red, however the 0 and 00 slots are green. Once bets are placed, the wheel will spin a ball around until the wheel stops and the ball lands on one of the slots. The European version on the other doesn’t contain the 00 slot, but instead only has the 0 slot.
Here you can see the sequences for both the European and American versions below:
Single-zero wheel (European)
0-32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33-1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26=
Double-zero wheel (American)
0-28-9-26-30-11-7-20-32-17-5-22-34-15-3-24-36-13-1-00-27-10-25-29-12-8-19-31-18-6-21-33-16-4-23-35-14-2
The table is set up where the numbers 1-36 are in three columns containing twelve numbers in each column. The layout for the bets are set up into two sections for insideand outside bets with an unlimited amount of bets that can be made. Inside bets are bets which involve either a single, adjacent or small groups of numbers. The outside bets on the other hand contain larger groups of numbers. Below we’ll discuss some of the various inside and outside bets.
Inside Bets
- Straight Up Bet is when your bet is put on top of a single number.
- Split Bet is when you bet on two adjacent numbers, which is between the numbers.
- Street Bet is where there are three numbers appearing in a row and the bet is placed at the end of the row.
- Corner Bet this is a group of four numbers where the bet is placed on the corner to where the four numbers touch each other.
- Five Bet which involves the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3, and the bet is placed just at the corner next to 0 and 1.
- Line Bet involves two rows containing 3 numbers each, where the bet is placed right at the end of the two rows, between each other.
Outside Bets
- Column Bet involve a whole row of numbers where the bet is placed on the “2-1” box located at the end of the column.
- Dozen Bet has a group of 12 numbers in which your bet is put on the “1st 12” box, the “2nd 12 box” or the 3rd 12” box.
- Bet on Color includes all of the numbers that are red or all of the numbers that are black, and the bet is mad on all the red number or all of the black numbers.
- Bet on Odd/Even contains either all of the even or odd numbers, and the bet is taken place on either all of the even number or all of the odd numbers.
- Bet on Low/High is where you select either all the low or high numbers and place your bet on numbers 1 – 18 or on 19 – 36.
American Roulette Payouts & Odds
Now that you’re familiar with the rules, let’s go ahead and talk about the American roulette payouts and odds. The odds for American roulette must be calculated in order to figure them out. This calculation is done by taking your chances of winning and comparing them to your chances of losing. As mentioned before, American roulette contains both 0 and 00 numbers and has 38 slots on the wheel, whereas the Europeanroulette doesn’t use the 00, therefore it only has 37 spots. Since the American version has more slots, this increases the house edge, which is approximately 5.26%, and the European version has a house edge of approximately 2.63%.
Taking a look back at the different types of inside and outside bets, now we’ll list them again, except this time we’ll show the odds of a winning payout, where inside bets have lower odds of winning compared to the outside bets, however the potential payouts for the inside bets are bigger.
Inside Bets
- Straight Up Bet payout is 35 to 1
- Split Bet payout is 17 to 1
- Street Bet payout is 11 to 1
- Corner Bet payout is 8 to 1
- Five Bet payout is 6 to 1
- Line Bet payout is 5 to 1
Outside Bets
- Column Bet payout is 2 to 1
- Dozen Bet payout is 2 to 1
- Bet on Color payout is 1 to 1
- Bet on Odd/Even payout is 1 to 1
- Bet on Low/High payout is 1 to 1
Now we’ve gone over the rules as well as the odds and payouts to American Roulette, this should set you on the right path to having fun at the casino floors or online, while playing with confidence. Speaking of online, here at Caesars Casino online we offer several different types of roulette tables for all experience levels. The best part about playing with us online is that all our games are entirely free and can be played from anywhere in the world, at any time!
Related posts:
Roulette Payouts & Odds
Quick Links
European Roulette Payouts & Odds
French Roulette Payouts & Odds
Roulette Bet Types Explained
Roulette House Edge Explained
Best Roulette Casinos
Best Online Roulette Odds
- European Roulette – Up to 95.5%
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- French Roulette – Up to 94.5%
Roulette is one of the easiest casino games to play and is also one of the oldest games available in casinos around the world. So how do roulette payouts and odds work?
Roulette has a consistent house edge and straightforward odds. You’ll learn everything you need to know about the edge and odds on this page as well as an explanation of each possible bet you can make at the table.
As you learn more about the house edge you’ll see that even at the tables with the best odds for the player the edge is higher than you’ll find at games like blackjack, baccarat, and some video poker machines.
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Can You Win Playing Roulette?
How To Play Roulette And Win
It’s easy to fall into the trap of only thinking about the percentage of the house edge of casino games, but many times you end up losing less per hour, and in turn being able to play longer, by playing a higher edge house game.
One of the main advantages of playing roulette is you play fewer spins per hour than you play hands per hour at the blackjack table, baccarat table, or at the video poker machine. When you combine this with the simple game-play where all of the bets have the same edge, roulette is a good choice for many casino players.
Odds and Edge on Three Different Roulette Wheels
Take a look at the odds, payouts, and house edge that are offered when playing on the American, European, or French roulette wheels.
American Roulette Payouts
Be sure to look at the section on how the house edge works to get familiar with why American roulette has a higher edge than European or French. Let’s take a look at the odds you face on each inside bet as well as the corresponding payouts. This is based on the US wheel.
Odds Chart American Roulette Payouts, Odds, Bets, and House Edge
| American Roulette – Inside Bets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Odds Against | Payout | House Edge |
| Straight Up | 37 to 1 | 35 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Split | 18 to 1 | 17 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Street | 11.7 to 1 | 11 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Trio | 11.7 to 1 | 11 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Corner | 8.5 to 1 | 8 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Five Number | 6.6 to 1 | 6 to 1 | 7.9% |
| Six Line | 5.33 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 5.26% |
The house edge on outside bets work on the sample principle but, as you’ll see in the following table, both the odds against winning and the payouts are much lower.
| American Roulette – Outside Bets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Odds Against | Payout | House Edge |
| Red or Black | 1.11 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Even or Odd | 1.11 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 5.26% |
| High or Low | 1.11 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Dozens | 2.17 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 5.26% |
| Columns | 2.17 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 5.26% |
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European Roulette Payouts
European roulette wheels don’t have a double zero space so the odds are better for the player. It is the most popular type of roulette played at most of the online casinos, as the house edge and odds of winning make it the best choice for avid players. Let’s take a look at the odds you face on each inside bet as well as the corresponding payouts.
Odds Chart European Roulette Payouts, Odds, Bets, and House Edge
| European Roulette – Inside Bets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Odds Against | Payout | House Edge |
| Straight Up | 36 to 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Split | 17.5 to 1 | 17 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Street | 11.33 to 1 | 11 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Trio | 11.33 to 1 | 11 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Corner | 8.25 to 1 | 8 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Six Line | 5.17 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 2.7% |
| European Roulette – Outside Bets | |||
| Bet | Odds Against | Payout | House Edge |
| Red or Black | 1.06 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Even or Odd | 1.06 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 2.7% |
| High or Low | 1.06 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Dozens | 2.08 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Columns | 2.08 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2.7% |
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French Roulette Payouts
The only difference between European roulette and French roulette is that in French roulette if you bet on high, low, red, black, odd, or even and the ball lands on zero, you only lose half your bet. So, the house edge on these bets is half of what it is on a European wheel. Let’s take a look at the odds you face on each inside bet as well as the corresponding payouts.
Odds Chart French Roulette Payouts, Odds, Bets, and House Edge
| French Roulette – Inside Bets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Odds Against | Payout | House Edge |
| Straight Up | 36 to 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Split | 17.5 to 1 | 17 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Street | 11.33 to 1 | 11 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Trio | 11.33 to 1 | 11 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Corner | 8.25 to 1 | 8 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Six Line | 5.17 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 2.7% |
| French Roulette – Outside Bets | |||
| Bet | Odds Against | Payout | House Edge |
| Red or Black | 1.06 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 1.35% |
| Even or Odd | 1.06 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 1.35% |
| High or Low | 1.06 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 1.35% |
| Dozens | 2.08 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Columns | 2.08 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2.7% |
Experienced gamblers avoid the US wheel, in favor of the European version –or even better, the French Roulette game, which has the best odds of all roulette payouts.
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Bet Types Explained
There are two types of bets that a player can place –inside and outside bets. These are relative to where you would actually place your chips on the table. Learning the type of bet and where to place the bet will help you know what your possible roulette payout will be.
Inside Bets
Single or StraightThis is a bet on a single number and is made by placing a chip or chips covering the number completely inside the box surrounding the number. |
SplitA bet on two numbers, a split is made by placing a chip or chips on the line between two numbers. |
StreetA street bet is on three numbers across the display, such as 31, 32, and 33. This bet is made by placing a chip or chips on the outside edge line on either end of the street. In this example, you place a bet on the leftmost line of the 31 or the rightmost line of the 33. |
Corner or SquareA corner or square bet is a bet on four numbers made by placing a chip or chips on the corner shared by all four numbers. |
Six Line or Double StreetThis is a bet on two streets made by placing a chip or chips on the outside line where the two streets meet. |
TrioA trio bet is a bet on three numbers that include at least a zero or double zero. The bet is made by placing a chip or chips on the intersecting line of the three numbers. |
Basket or First FourA bet on numbers zero, one, two, and three on a single zero wheel, made by placing a chip or chips on the outside corner of the zero and one or zero and three. |
Top Line or Five NumberA bet on the double zero, zero, one, two, and three on a double zero wheel, made by placing a chip or chips on the outside corner of the zero and one or double zero and three. |
Outside Bets
High or LowThis bet is on either 19 to 36 for high or 1 to 18 for low. Each table has a designated area for this bet. |
Red or BlackThis bet is either on red or black and each table has a designated area for each of these wagers. |
Even or OddThis bet is that the number will be even or odd. The table has a designated area for these bets. |
DozenThe dozens bets are for the first 12 numbers, 1 to 12, the second twelve, 13 to 24, or the third dozen, 25 to 36. Dozens bets are placed in the designated area, usually to the left of the numbers printed on the felt. |
ColumnA column bet is for one of the 12 numbers in the first, second, or third column will land on the wheel. These bets are placed along the bottom of the numbers on the felt under the column you wish to bet on. |
How the Roulette House Edge Works
Bets in roulette range from simple ‘coin flip’ chances such as red or black, to inside bets which have payouts of a huge 35-to-1. Having an understanding of how these odds are calculated and how they affect your overall bankroll and betting strategy can help your Roulette game immensely. This includes understanding which wheel has the best return on the bets you make.
What is the House Edge in Roulette?
House edge is the long-term profit casinos make from every bet. This will vary between games (Keno is particularly loathsome at 27% while basic bets in Baccarat are under 1.25%). Roulette’s house edge clocks in at 5.26% for the US wheel and 2.7% for the single zero European version.
How is the House Edge Calculated?
A straight-up bet requires 1 of 38 numbers (the 1-36 numbers along with 0 and 00) to come in, meaning you are facing odds of 37-1 against your number winning (36-1 against with the European wheel).
35 to 1 Payout in Roulette
When you are lucky enough to win a straight-up bet, the payout is only 35-1. Putting this into dollar terms, a winning $1 bet on the number 19 will result in a $35 profit when the true odds dictate that you should receive $37 instead. Taking this into consideration, you can calculate the house edge of Roulette by simply taking that $2 difference and divide it by 38 (the total amount of numbers on the table).
American Roulette Rules And Payouts
It’s All About the Zeroes – Payouts for O and OO Roulette
For ‘outside’ bets the edge is controlled by the zeroes. When you bet on red/black or odd/even (for example) and the ball lands on the green zero – all bets lose.
This means that the US wheel makes these bets twice as likely to lose as the European wheel. There is a 3rd variation of the game, known as ‘French Roulette’, which returns half of your stake from even money bets when the ball hits the single zero slot. This lowers the house edge considerably. Though exactly how much, will depend on the proportion of inside and outside bets you make.
Roulette Payouts & Odds – Conclusion
If possible, try to find a French roulette wheel when you play, but at the very least stick with a European wheel.
The American wheels cut your playing time in half by charging you twice the house edge of the European wheels.
You can find European wheels in almost every online casino, including all of the ones we recommend on this site and in most land-based casinos. If you don’t see a single zero wheel ask someone. If they don’t offer one consider playing somewhere else.
Other Helpful Resources
- Wikipedia roulette page.
- Wizard of Odds roulette page.